The novel follows Harper, who returns to her small hometown after inheriting her family’s island—an inheritance she couldn’t claim until she turned 37. What starts as a homecoming quickly turns into an unraveling of old secrets, long-held grief, and a town full of people convinced Harper was somehow involved in a string of family tragedies.

The alternating timelines work well, creating a rich backdrop for the story’s central mystery. The pacing is well-balanced; while the suspense is more of a slow simmer than an immediate jolt, the final quarter is packed with revelations and high emotional stakes. The last twist completely blindsided me—in a good way—and gave the entire story a satisfying resolution.

While the plot structure was solid and the writing immersive, the character development fell short. Harper, in particular, lacked the emotional depth I hoped for in a protagonist. I wasn’t deeply invested in anyone on a personal level.

The novel’s strength lies in its plotting, tension, and structure. Every chapter added something meaningful to the central mystery, and the past/present transitions were smoothly executed. That said, the book would benefit from some trimming, as not all subplots felt essential.

There were a lot of characters and I struggled to keep up with all of them, felt like a needed one of those crime boards with all the names and threads.

It was entertaining overall, but I found the ending to be very rushed and at times the middle to be too slow.

It Happened on the Lake had me entranced from start to finish!! Every page was filled with suspense and excitement, it was impossible to put this one down! When Ms. Jackson puts pen to paper she can do no wrong. I can honestly say that there hasn't been a title that I have read from her yet that I haven't absolutely loved!!! Highly recommend this one, it would make the perfect summer beach read!!

I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the way the story unfolded in multiple timelines as the various mysteries unravelled. The characters were well-developed and interconnected with good backstories that played a role in how the various subplots merged. It’s a longer read, but if you like slow-burn suspense and murder mysteries, this is a great book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

Review: It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson

This book gave me chills. Lisa Jackson serves up a twisty, atmospheric suspense novel that wraps small-town secrets, sibling tension, and long-buried trauma into one deeply unsettling package. The story follows Rory, who returns to the lakeside town of her childhood after her estranged sister’s mysterious drowning. But what starts as a search for closure slowly unravels into something much darker — and far more personal.

The lake is almost a character in itself — eerie, silent, and always watching. Jackson’s writing builds an ominous sense of dread that kept me turning pages well into the night. I loved how she slowly peeled back layers of the characters’ pasts, revealing just enough to keep me guessing until the final twist (and whew, what a twist!).

Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with a touch of the gothic and anyone who enjoys a summer setting with a dark undercurrent. It's a slow-burn at first, but the payoff is worth it.

Read if you like:
🪦 Sibling drama
🌊 Eerie lake towns
🕵️‍♀️ Hidden secrets
📖 Dual timelines and past trauma
🌀 That creeping, can't-trust-anyone vibe

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest and unbiased review.
I have been a fan of Lisa Jackson’s books for some time now, and this one definitely did not disappoint! The book is on the longer side, and a slow burn story wise…but it certainly didn’t feel like a long read.

I loved how it was told in both past and present tense, giving us a bit of a back story of the different characters and not just relying on Harper’s (main character) POV to keep us up to speed.

While it did lag in some spots, I was excited to keep reading to unravel the secrets and solve the multiple mysteries. It’s a bit of a spin on Rear Window, but definitely its own tale. I really enjoyed it and will continue to read anything Lisa Jackson publishes!

Told in two timelines twenty years apart this book was a miss for me. The MC was portrayed in extremes, either afraid of her own shadow or the heroine in her own story. Secondary characters were unlikeable. The plot moved at a glacial pace and I knew I was in trouble when I started skimming paragraphs, then pages, then chapters. I was grateful to have a chance to review but ultimately had to put it aside.

It Happened on the Lake, a standalone thriller packed full of more twists and turns than your favorite roller coaster, delivers a captivating story that echoes the essence of Hitchcock’s "Rear Window" with a gothic twist. Lisa Jackson, an expert in crafting psychological thrillers, invites readers on a journey back to Lake Twilight, Oregon, where Harper Reed Prescott faces the unresolved tragedies of her past.

Harper returns to Dixon Island after twenty years of avoiding the painful memories it holds, to the secluded Victorian mansion that she inherited from her grandmother. Back to the place where her grandmother died under suspicious circumstances and her boyfriend vanished, making Harper an outcast in town. Harper is flawed and relatable, battling alcoholism, a failed marriage, and a strained relationship with her daughter.

Lisa Jackson narrates a tale that goes beyond mere mystery, exploring themes of inherited trauma, emotional and environmental isolation, family secrets, and the destructive forces of manipulation and greed. The story unfolds through an intricate dual timeline, alternating between the present day in 1988 and flashbacks to the fateful events of 1968. This allows for a slow, calculated revealing of the truth and keeps the reader engaged in piecing together the complex puzzle.

While It Happened on the Lake brims with suspense and intrigue, I did notice some repetition in Harper’s struggles, which made the story feel longer than necessary. Despite these minor pacing issues, I wholeheartedly recommend It Happened on the Lake to fans of atmospheric psychological thrillers. Lisa Jackson's ability to weave a haunting story of how the past inevitably defines the present, blending suspenseful plotting with deep character exploration makes this novel a worthy addition for both longtime fans and new readers alike.

Thank you, Lisa Jackson, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this novel!

First and foremost, I don’t believe that I was the ideal reader for this type of novel. I found this one a bit difficult to get into, and was only invested in the main characters for the end third of the book. I would definitely classify this as a slow burn, which isn’t typically my ideal read. That being said, there were a couple of twists here that I thought were intriguing and with the slow burn element, readers were able to really get to know the main characters. I also loved how much the FMC’s grandmother loved cats and how they were a theme throughout! Overall, not the book for me but I can absolutely see how fans of slow burn mysteries with heavy character development would be a fan of this one!

I went into this book super excited about it. It’s a summer thriller book… say less! However, it was so drawn out that I quickly slipped into a reading slump. I had a very hard time wanting to read it and had to force myself to finish. I think the story had a lot of potential, but there is just so much to read through and so much added to the story that didn’t need to be there, that it dragged out and ruined the book for me.

I think if it could be cut down, a lot, and only keep the key parts in it, this book would be so much better!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Jackson, and Kensington Publishing for the eARC. A gripping, twist-filled thriller that masterfully weaves the past and present into one compelling story. Perfectly layered and impossible to put down!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the eARC.
I don’t really have much to say about this one, because it wasn’t that good. Terrible characters, but decent plot. It was entirely way too long, repetitive, and had nothing on. A good majority of all the action happened in the last 100 pages. Entirely too predictable, and just not a good book. No suspense whatsoever, and really just a bunch of nonsense.

It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson is another engrossing pyschological thriller.
This book has all of the twists and turns that I have come to expect from this author. She has a compelling writing style that kept me glued to the pages.
Jackson never disappoints and this book is proof of that.

This was a "couldn't put it down" read for me!
Harper Reed Prescott returns to the town she grew up in, having left after her boyfriend Chase disappeared and her wealthy grandmother died under Harper's watch 20 years ago, when Harper was 18 years old. Now (1988), she has come back to Oregon and the family mansion that she has finally inherited. Her first night in the house, she spots a burning boat on the lake below. Harper swims out to help, only to find Chase's mother dumping old photo albums into the water and screaming accusations at Harper that she killed her son. This shaky start to Harper's homecoming is an omen of things to come, with her cat going missing, her grandmother's old dolls being moved around in the middle of the night, and the police putting fresh eyes on all the tragic events that have taken place on the lake and at Harper's grandmother's house over the last 3 decades. The story alternates between multiple points of view and 3 timelines, two in the 1960's and on in the late 1980's and has great gothic vibes. With well fleshed-out characters and many twists, some I saw coming and some not, this was a gripping (although long) read.

This book is a slow burner and to be honest too slow. I did find it to be too repetitive at times also. I wanted to love it but unfortunately, I can only say I liked it. I was disappointed as I was really looking forward to reading this. Please try yourself as this is my opinion only and you may find out that you love it.

It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson is a thriller. Surprises abound around every corner of the novel until the last moment. I was exhausted at the end as I felt like I had been in a wringer of anticipation, guessing and guessing again.

There is an island with a huge house that belongs to Harper Reed Prescott. She inherited the place from her grandmother and it follows the line. Harper spent most of her young life there swimming, canoeing and playing with the neighbors. Her family has been decimated by death all in tragic accidents. She came back to figure out what is next for her and her life.

The first night back she tries to save a woman who was burning in a canoe. That just opens a can of “who dun do it” from the past. Incidents keep happening. Someone is playing with her by moving things around and scaring her. Many of the same people are living around the lake and everyone wants something from her. People suspect her of killing her grandmother. There are many questions without answers.

I like the doggedness of Harper and her determination to take control of her life. I liked how the story moved back in time and filled in blanks interspersed with the present day. The dolls creeped me out - BIG TIME! I liked the back story with all the references to the present day story. I liked how the story unfolded. It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson is a thrilling good read.

The storyline is gripping and the characters are so well developed. The pacing is a bit slow so tuck in and get ready for a long one.

3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of It Happened On The Lake.

Harper is returning to her childhood home for the first time in years. She is haunted by what happened there in the past and when an incident takes place there after she arrives it brings all of the past back up. Then when a new threat emerges she wants to find out who is messing with her.

This book had potential but was about 400 pages too long. I thought the plot was good but it was way too repetitive and dragged out.

I’ve been a fan of Lisa Jackson’s books for a very long time so was super excited to get this arc read opportunity.
The twists and turns and all the crazy things Harper had to go through, I felt so bad for the girl. But had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen. The book was a little longer than I would have liked for the story but I enjoyed it either way.

This month was way too busy for such a gripping novel… but that didn’t stop me from enjoying every bit of it. It took me longer than usual to get through, but that had nothing to do with the story itself. If I’d had the time or mental bandwidth, I could’ve easily devoured it in a day or two, but life was just wouldn’t allow it.

If you love a thrilling murder whodunnit packed with drama, this one’s for you!

I was completely hooked by the storyline and genuinely invested in the characters—flaws and all. I had my suspicions about the who, but the how completely caught me off guard. Lisa Jackson did an incredible job keeping the suspense going right up until the very end. Her storytelling kept me fully engaged, and I loved how everything unfolded.

This was my first Lisa Jackson book, and it definitely won’t be my last!